Anyone used EU Claim/Bott & Co?

martin907

I have just had a settlement from an airline (confidentiality agreement prevents me from naming them) brokered by Bott & Co for a cancelled flight in 2009. The total amount paid by the airline for myself, my wife and my daughter was £2181.85 (£727.28 each) which was made up of €600 (£506.59) each plus interest, legal and other fees.

Bott & Co have paid us £348.27 each broken down as follows:
Settlement in Sterling (Gross) £506.59
Less 27% charge (deducted in Sterling) £136.78
Less €25.00 Admin Fee (deducted in Sterling) £21.54

I was naively expecting it to be the total paid (i.e. £727.28) less 27% less €25.00 but it seems not. Bott & Co take everything above the €600 for themselves. I expect that is all explained in their terms and conditions but I was swayed by the fact that they say on their web site and in replies to a number of other contributors to this thread that their only charges are €25 euros plus 27% of the total compensation amount following payment from the airline.

I can probably understand the recovery of legal fees but how can they justify the retention of interest payments?

Anyway I guess £348 is better than nothing at all but I just wanted to point this out to people who may be considering using Bott & Co that whatever payment they negotiate with an airline you will not receive anything more than £348.

legal_magpie

If you are dissatisfied ask them to clarify the situation for you. They will be able to point you to the wording of the agreement.
(I have no connection with Bott and Co)
JJ

Vauban

I'm slightly confused by your post. Did you or Bott pay the court fees? If Bott did, and got them refunded, why would you expect that to be paid to you?

I take the point about interest - but that has been discussed on here loads of times. Was that not part of your agreement? You do need to go into this with your eyes open. How much interest were you awarded? (Sometimes it's nothing at all. )

So you were awarded the equivalent of €1800, and Bott have paid you about €1200. Is that right? To be honest, given the cost of lawyers, I reckon you got a reasonable deal.

Will you do it yourself next time?

PS I have no connection to Bott - or any law firm!

richardw

martin907 wrote: »

.. I expect that is all explained in their terms and conditions...

Probably and were worth reading.

results

Found this in the T & C's

3.6 EUclaim also reserve the right to retain any interest that has been recovered from the airline

Struggling with the 25 euros as the way it is written sounds like it per claim not per passenger.

You only pay if we win your compensation claim. In this case, EUclaim will receive a commission of 27% incl. VAT, and a flat-rate handling charge of 25 euros incl. VAT per claim.

kuepper

not heard from them for a bit, are all cases being held up pending another legal decision?

kuepper

Just got an update from Bott on my case:

We have conduct of the highest authority court case in the UK around EU Regulation 261/2004 called Huzar v Jet2. The Judge ruled in our favour in this case and confirmed technical defects could not be considered extraordinary and a copy of the judgment can be found at http://www.bottonline.co.uk/articles/approved-judgement-huzar-v-jet2 .

We have won both these two cases already and the airlines are now appealing the decisions, which means your claim is also delayed until the appeals have been heard and a final Judgement is made. We are working incredibly hard with some of the best Barristers and legal teams in the country to make sure the appeals are rejected and our original wins are upheld.

Jet2 have formally appealed this judgment and it is likely the matter will now go before the Court of Appeal in 2014, or even 2015 depending on court waiting times. If this does occur it is likely all court cases featuring technical defects will be stayed pending the outcome of this appeal so that there is consistency in all courts.

Unfortunately your case has been stayed in the interim pending the outcome of these appeals – and this is because the court wants to ensure consistency in the decision making process at courts throughout the country.

We appreciate this is frustrating, but unfortunately we have no say within the matter. We will of course update you as soon as we are aware of the outcome.

sat85

I just want to report that after a year of being fobbed off by Monarch for a 12 hour delayed flight in 2009, (That they admitted was caused by an engine fault, but still refused to pay up - twice they 'looked at it'). In utter frustration I turned to EU Claim/Bott & Co in September last year and have just received settlement to my account. The amount was exactly as stated, i.e. the EU specified compensation minus their 27% minus 25 euro per passenger.

I don't know what else to say, could I have have got more? Sure if I was prepared to invest the time and money taking Monarch on I would probably have eventually got more...maybe but equally likely would have been worn down by Monarch and given up, So personally i'm a happy bunny. Niggles? Well if you want to be picky EU Claim/Bott & Co tend to use the exchange rates favorable to them, but they are a business, can't blame them, just look on the extra few quid lost in the exchange as their little 'tip' I guess. Conclusion based on my experience - if you cant be bothered DIY'ing - use them or someone like them.

ginster_67

I was delayed last year and wrote to Monarch and received there usual brush off so i went with EU Claim who sent me onto Bott and Co in October .My money is now sat in my bank account already ,cant fault the process and for four claims it must have took no more than 15 mis of my time.
Thank you Bott and Co :T

tapyeno

I applied to Monarch for £1300 for four of us our delayed flight, Gatwick to Malaga - delayed by over 6 hours. Was told no deal, even after appealing again with info re a court decision which I felt favoured my case. Contacted EU Claim who have dealt with my claim very satisfactorily! Heard today from Botts that £900 is being transferred to my account from Monarch who have agreed to pay up!! Very happy with this and glad I used EU Claim.